Telegraph transmitting system



Oct. 19, 1943. K. A. SYLVVESTER 25331940 TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.1'

F'IG.2

INVENTOR. KIMMEL A. SYLVESTER ATTORNEY.

Oct. 19, 1943. K. A. SYLVESTER TELEGRAPH TRANS MITTING SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m mi N: wk wk Nb .2 0W- a? ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR. KIMMEL A. SYLVESTER BYJwW v N9 mm- Oct. 19, 1943. K. A. SYLVESTER I 7 2,331,940

TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SYSTEM Filed April 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 245 FIG. 4 FIG. 6 25 5 252 INVENTOR KIMMEL A. SYLVESTER ATTORNEY Patentedoct. 19, 1943 TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTING SY Kimmel A. Sylvester, S'kokie, Ill.-, assignorito 'r ele typ o poration Chicagq,, 11-, afccrmrat cu of Delaware Application AprillS, 1941 Serial No. 38951 6 Gla ma The present invention relates to printing telegraph systems, and more particularly to control systems therefor.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a selector system to control transmission from a group of transmitters to a single channel of communication.

Another object is to provide an electrical relay selector system for controlling the automatic and sequential transmission of messages from a plurality of tape transmitters to a single channel of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in the transmitters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cam disc type of selector for facilitating auto,- matic and sequential transmission of messages from a plurality of tape transmitters to a single channel of communication in accordance with the sequence in which the tape is inserted in the transmitting units.

In commercial telegraph offices, the handling of messages is facilitated by providing a selector system and apparatus which will permit sequen-. tial automatic transmission of messages to a single outgoing channel of communication from individual transmitting units of a number of groups or banks of units distributed about the ofiice. That is, one or more units of each group of units may be connected to the same outgoing line, and the selector system according to the present invention controls the sequence in whichthe transmission from these units take place. The individual units may be connected either die rectly to the outgoing line, or to a reperforator located adjacent to a transmitter common to. all

units and-connected to an outgoing line. The individual transmitter unit identified witha pan ticular channel of communication may or may not be in the same bank.

A complete understanding of the foregoing-and. other objects of the present invention may behad from the following description when takenin; conjunction with the accompanying drawingsin which Fig. l is a diagram illustrating the connections. whereby sequential control of transmission from an uneven distribution of transmitting distribu tors per channel may be effected;

Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the connections.

whereb sequential control of transmission from;

of messages, from a plurality of transmitting distributors to. a. single channel, in accordance with thesequence of tape placementin the transmitters;

Fig. 4-is plan view, partly in section, of a cam disc type of-selector for controlling automatically the. sequential transmission oi messages to a single channel in accordance with the order of placement of; the tape illthe transmitters;

Fig. 5 is anelevational view, partly in section, of the cam disc type of selector shownin Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 66 of the Fig. 5;

Fig. 7- is a sectional view taken on line I of Fig. 5

Fig.8 is a schematic arrangement of the essentialelements, of the cam disc type of selector of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a bani; of transmitters showing the, association of the cam disc type of selector therewith.

Havingreference to, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the banks of transmitting units are indicated by the, numora s l. 113. and 1: an e f, t type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 5 l d-Jul .9% y Goe ow ate o, 29fil fi i granted Sen 9. 19 2- a fl hev u ts. H o com r s s. ap ur lit of; tape transmitter distributors l5,,, and if it is es re to ra m i omv r qus nes. oi he units [5 to he ame, n l ne or hannel, the unit iareco nect d th u banks r ays It, I1. [8 or l9 (Fig. 1). to signalchannels 2 6, 21., 28., or 2 9 or ban lgsof relays 2 1, 2,23, and 24, (Fig. 2) to channels 31, 32, 33 and 3,4,, respectively. In the par arran ment. hown'in E g- 1, he-tape transmi tin unitsv l5 identified with XD-.l, XD l anQXDQB of thebank or multiple unit it; and ofthe multiple unit l2;

of multiple, unit. [3, and D-r-I of multi e...unit are, connected through relay bank 6; o the sin e channel. 25., Likewise, Xn-z of multi e unit. DrZ-and of mu t p unit 12; Ina-land of multiple unit [3 and or unit Utare-allconnected through the relay. banl; l ,1 tqthechannel 21. Similarly, it can be noted from Fig. 1 the particular transmittine. d s r butor units 15 w ich are o nect d through their respeqtiverelay banks [8 and i9.

tothe channels. 28 and 29. The same can be seen fromFfig. 2 wherein onetransmitting unit from each multiple unitis connected through a relay bank .2 I, to 2A t ntheirespective channels 3] 17 .34.

Eor purposes. of illustration, there is. shown in Fig, 3a, relay. bank, serving four transmitting dis.- tributor units [5, one in each bank of units ll to I 4. As disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, each of the transmitter distributor units I includes a tape-out contact 35 and a clutch trip magnet 36. In the arrangement according to the present invention, the number of relays in a relay bank, such as shown in Fig. 3, is the square of the number of transmitting distributor units I 5 controlled. In Fig. 3, four units I5 are controlled, hence the relay bank comprises sixteen relays. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, each of the transmitter units I5 is provided with a group of four relays. Namely, unit I5 of the bank II is provided with a group of relays 4I, 42, 43, and 44. Unit I5 of bank I2 is provided with a group of relays 5|, 52, 53, and

- 54. Unit I5 of bank I3 is provided with a group of relays BI, 62, 83, and 64; and unit I5 of bank I4 is provided with a group of relays 1!, 12, 13, and 14.

Upon inserting tape in the unit I5 of bank II, the tape-out contact 35 is closed and a circuit is completed from battery 10, over conductor 15, conductor 16, through contact 35, over conductor 11, through contact 13, over conductor 19, through contact 8|, over conductor 82, through contact 83, over conductor 84, through contact 85, over conductor 80, through the winding of relay 4|, thence through its contact 81, over conductor 88, through contact 89 of relay H, over conductor 9|, through contact 92 of relay 6!, over conductor 93, through contact 94 of relay 5!, over conductor 95, and through contact 96 of relay 4| to ground. Upon the completion of this circuit, relay 4| will become energized, and its four make-before-break contacts will be operated to open the contacts 81, 96, and 85 and close its contacts 91, 98, 99, and II". The closing of contact 91 applies ground to a locking circuit for relay 4|, from ground, through contact 91, then through the winding of relay 4 I, over conductor 86, through contact 99, over conductor 65, and then through contact 65 of relay 4 2 to positive battery. Contact IOI is closed when relay 4| is energized, so that the energizing circuit for relay 42 is completed before the locking circuit for relay 4| is broken. The energizing circuit for relay 42 extends over that portion of the previously discribed energizing circuit for relay 4| up to conductor 84, thence the circuit continues through contact IOI, through the winding of re lay 42, then through contact I02 of relay 42, over conductor I03, through contact I04 of relay 12, over conductor I05, through contact I05 of relay 52, over conductor I01, through contact I38 of relay 52, over conductor I09, thence through contact III of relay 42 to ground. Upon energization, relay 42 pulls up its make-before-break contacts to open contacts I02, III, 65 and 83, and close contacts H2, H3, H4, H5, and H5. The opening of contact 66 will break the locking circuit for relay 4|. The closing of contact I I2 applies ground to a locking circuit for relay 42 (which ground was applied before the opening of contact I02) from ground through contact II2, through winding of relay 42, over conductor 61, through contact II 5, over conductor 68, then through contact 09, to battery. Simultaneously, contact IIB is closed before contact 83 is opened to complete an energizing circuit for relay 43 before relay 42 is de-energized. The energizing circuit for relay 43 extends from that portion of the first-mentioned energizing circuit for relay 4'! up to conductor 82, then through contact I I8, through the winding of relay 43, through its contact II1, over conductor II8, through contact I I9 Cal of relay 13, over conductor I2I, through contact I22 of relay 03, over conductor I23, through contact I24 of relay 53, over conductor I25, thence through contact I25 of relay 43 to ground.

The energization of relay 43 will cause its make-before-break contacts to be operated to close contacts I21, I28, I23, I3I, and I32 The closing of contact I21 applies ground to complete a locking circuit for relay 43 from ground through contact I21, through Winding of relay 43, over conductor I I0, through contact I3 I, over conductor I20 and through contact 80 to positive battery. However, the energizing circuit for relay 43 will be broken upon the opening of contact 84 which opens following the closure of contact I32. The opening of contact 8| and the closing of contact I32 causes an energizing circuit to be completed for relay 44 over that portion of the firstdescribed energizing circuit for relay 4! up to the conductor 19, then through contact I32, through the winding of relay 44, through contact I33, over conductor I34, through contact I235 of relay 14, over conductor I36, through contact I31 of relay 64, over conductor I30, through contact I39 of relay 54, over conductor I II, thence through contact I42 to ground. Upon the energization of relay 44, its make-before-break contacts will be operated to close contacts I43, I44, I45, I40, and I41, and to open contacts I33, I42, 18, and 80. The opening of contact 80 removes locking battery from relay 43 allowing it to re store to its unoperated position. The circuit for relay 44, being broken at contact 18, will be established through contact I46 over conductor I48, through the winding of relay 44, thence through contact I43 to ground. The energization of relay 44, by operating the contact I41 thereof, completes a circuit for the clutch trip magnet 36 of unit I5 of bank II from battery, through contacts I41, over conductor I49, through the winding of clutch trip relay of the trans mitter distributing unit I5, thence over conductor I5| to ground. The operation of the clutch trip magnet 38 permits the transmitting cam shaft of said unit I5 to be rotated continuously to step the tape along and to transmit the signals over the line wire I52.

While, transmission is taking place from multiple unit II, tape may be inserted in any of the other multiple units I2, I3, or I4. Assuming that tape is now inserted in a unit I5 of bank I2, as indicated in the Figur 3, a circuit is completed from battery 10, over conductor 15, through tapeout contact I53 over conductor I54, through contact I55, over conductor I56, through contact I51, over conductor I58, through contact I53, over conductor IIiI, through contact I52, over conductor I53, through the winding of relay 5|, through contact I64, over conductor 80, through contact 89, over conductor 9|, through contact 92, over conductor 93, through contact 94, over conductor 95 and through contact 96 of relay 4| to ground. Upon energization, relay 5| pulls up its makebefore-break contacts I05, I61, I63, and IE3. Closure of contact I68 completes a locking circuit to relay 5| from ground, through contact I through winding of relay 5|, over conductor I63, through contact I68, over conductor I33, and through contact I to battery. Closure of contact I69 completes an energizing circuit for relay 52 over that portion of the previously described energizing circuit for relay 5| up to conductor IGI thence through contact I 39 and through the winding of relay 52, through contact I1I thereof, then over conductor I03, through contact I04 or" r 2,133 139cc tact I13 will be closed to complete an energizing circuit for relay 53 over aportioniof the previous ly described energizing circuit for relays I and The operation of the contacts associated with relay 53 will not cause the .energization of relay 54 at this time as was the case in, the series of relays 4| to'44, because tape is being stepped by the unit I5 of bank II and signals are .being transmitted over the line I52 therefrom, and during this transmission, relay 54 cannot be ene-r gized upon the closure of contact I14 associated with contact I5! of relay 53 because of the fact that the ground for the energizing circuit for relay 54is cut ofi by the opening of contact I42 of relay 44. However, when the tape has become depleted from the unit I5 of bank I! and the tape-out contact -has become opened, the energizing circuit from battery 1.0 over the aforedescribed circuit to relay 44 will be broken and hence relay 4.4 will becomede-energized, thereby opening its contacts I43 to I41, inclusive, and closing its contact I42, thereby applying ground to the previously prepared circuit for relay 54 which will become energized and pull up its makebefore-break contacts and close its contacts I15, I'IS, I71, I18, and H9. The closure of contact I19 of relay 54 completes an energizing circuit for the clutch release or trip magnet I8! of the unit I5 of bank I2 from battery, through contact I'IS, over conductor I82, thence through the winding of magnet I8! and over the conductor I5! to ground. ihe energization of the clutch magnet I8I causes the transmitting cam distributor to be operated continuously, and the tape to he stepped ahead constantly to effect the transmission of signals over the line wire I52 from the operated unit in the bank I2.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when tape is inserted in a transmitting distributor I5, the relays 48 to 44, 5! to 54, BI to 64, and II to I4, in the bank frelays associated therewith will operate in succession from left to right, for example, relay 4I releasing after relay 42 pulls up; relay 42 releasing after relay 43- operates; and relay 43 releasing after relay 44 operates. Relay 44 remains locked in the operated position through the tape-out contact 35 located in the transmitting distributo I5 of bank II, and the contact I48 of relay 4 until the tape in thetransmitting distributor has been stepped out and the tape-outcontact 1:35 opens. When relays 44, 54, 64, or '14 of any group of relays of which they form a part is in the operated position, transmission from the corresponding transmitting distributor occurs by means of the corresponding transmitter distributor stop magnet 36 being energized through their contacts I41, I19, I83, or IB4.

As was also described, when the tape was inserted in a unit I5 of the second group of units I2 while tape remained in a unit I5'of the first group of units II, the relays M to 54 in the second group of relays operated from left to right in the manner just described, except that the stepping process stopped at relay 53. Relay 53 remains locked up in :anopcratedposition through contact! ofirelay '54 of it own groupof relays, its own contacts I -and H2 being closed. Relay 54 cannot operate until relay 44 of the previous transmitter roup has released, that is, transmission from the'transmitting distributor in bank I 2 does not begin until relay 54 operates.

If tape is inserted in a transmitter unit I5 of either or the remaining groups of relays GI to 64, or II to I4, While tape still remains in the previous two groups of relays, the relays BI to 64 01"7' to I4 will operate in succession from left to right. Assuming that tape is inserted first in bank I3 and then in bankILthe-stepping process will terminate at relay Blot-the group 6! to '64, and relay II of the group II to I4. Relay B2 of the group 6| to 64 will be locked up through contact I of relay 63, its own contacts I86 and I81 being closed. Relay II will remain locked up by a circuit extending through contact I88 of relay I2 andits own contacts 189 and I9I.

When tape runs out of the transmitting distributor I5 of bank II in which tape was first placed, its tape-out contact 35 opens, as previously mentioned, removing battery from relay 44 of the group of relays M to 44, through con-. tact I46. As relay 44 releases, closure of contact I42 makes available a common ground return for relays 54, 64, and I4 of the other groups of relays. The next transmitting distributor in which tape was placed, namely, distributor unit I5 of bank} 2, has its relay-53 locked in the operating position and has had battery for relay 54 in readiness through a circuit including its contact I14 and tape-out contactI53. This circuit relay, andrelay 54is energized and is locked in its operating position through the tape out contact I58, and its own contacts 118 and I15. Transmission now takes place from the transmitting unit I5 of'ba-nk I2. As reiay 54 operates, relay 53 of the same group releases and closure of its contact I3-9-,makesavailable a common ground return circuit for relays 43, Gtjand 53' of the other groups. The group of relays, namely, GI to 64,in which the stepping process has stopped at relay 62 nowsteps up to relay 53. Likewise, the group of relays, namely, H to E4, in which the stepping process has stopped at relay 'II now steps up to 12; The energizing circuit for relay 4| of the first group of relays energized, namely, M to 44, is now ready for another signal from the tape-out contact-35 of its associated unit I5.

may be placed is the one which has just completed the transmission of itstape.

Although the foregoing description was di-" rooted to the preparation for transmission of the units in the successiveorder from bank I I to bank I4, the circuit arrangement provides for the preparation of the groups of relays in any order, and transmission from the various units will take placein the order or sequence of the placement. ,of the tape in the respective transmitting unit.

For example, if it be assumed that the unit ill of bank II is transmitting over the line I52, and tape is first inserted in the unit I5 of bank I3 during such transmission instead of at bank I2, as previously described, grounded battery at It will be connected over the tape-out contact of unit I5 of bank I3 to energize the chain of relays associated therewith; Therela-ys associated with this unitwillbe sequentially momentarily energized, as described hereinbefore in connection However, at this particular time, the only transmitting distributor I5 in which tape with another series, and relays SI and 62 will be tie-energized and relay 63 will be held energized from battery at break contact 45 of relay 64. Since the ground connection for completing the energizing circuit of relay 64 is broken at contact I42 of relay 44 until tape at bank l I is exhausted, the relays of the chain associated with bank !3 will be held in the just described condition until tape at said unit I5 of bank H is exhausted; at which time relay 63 will be de-energized, and relay 64 is energized to close contact 183 to establish an energizing circuit for clutch trip magnet 46 of the unit 50f bank l3.

If it be further assumed that tape, was sequentially inserted in the units H, [3, l2, and I4, relays 44, 93, 52, and 1| will be held energized until tape is exhausted from unit l5 of bank Ii, whereupon bank 43 will start to transmit upon de-energization of relay 44, and energization of relay E4. Relays B3, 52 and 1! become de-energized and'relays 53 and 12 become energized. As soon as unit l5 of bank l3 has transmitted until its tape is exhausted, relays 64. 53, and 12 will de-energize and relays 54 and 13 will energize. Transmission will ensue from unit ii of bank l2 until tape is exhausted therefrom, after which relays 54 and 13 will de-energize, and relay 14 will energize to initiate transmission from bank i4 Modification According to another form of the invention, a mechanical means of controlling the sequence of transmission in accordance with the placement of the tape in the transmitter is shown in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive. Mounted on a base plate 20! are a pair of supports 202 and 203 in which is journaled a shaft 204, restrained against edgewise or axial movement by collars 205 and 205 secured to said shaft. Also mounted on base plate 20| are a pair of spaced side plates 201 and 20S. Shaft 204 carries thereon for rotation therewith a plurality of cams 209, 2H), 2H, and 2 I2, suitably positioned'and spaced between plates 20'! and 208. Cams 209 to H2 are frictionally connected to shaft 204 by a friction clutch mechanism which comprises a flanged collar Hi3 secured to said shaft and a flanged collar 2E4 slidably mounted on said shaft through the instrumentality of key means 2l5. Friction discs 216 are juxtapositioned to the cams 200 to 2l2 and suitable collars 2|1 are employed as spacers between said cams. Positioned between flanged collar 2M and support 203 is a collar 218 which is fixed to said shaft, and compressed between collar 2H3 and the flange of collar 2 is a compression spring 219, by means of which compres sive force is applied to the friction members 2l6 associated with the cams 209 to 212 to permit said cams to rotate with shaft 204 when released for rotation, as hereinafter described. Fixed to shaft 204 between support 202 and plate 201 is a cam member 22L which operates to close a series of contacts 222, 223, 224 and 225 arranged around its periphery as shown in Fig. '7. Contacts 222 to 225 are appropriately mounted to the side plate 201 by individual brackets 225 (Fig. 4) Contacts 222 to 225 are normally held open under their own spring'tension, and cam 22! upon rotation with shaft 204 acts upon the extended arm 221 of each of said contacts to close them successively.

Spanned between plates 201 and 208 is a control magnetically a serie of pawl members 235 associated with each of the cams 209 to H2. Pawls 235 are pivotally mounted on a shaft 236 journaled in side plates 201 and 208. Pawls 235 are normally biased in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7) by individual springs 230. Each of the pawls 235 is provided with a pair of pallets 231 and 238. Each lever 235 is also provided with an extension 239 (Fig. 6) which cooperates with spring 24! of a pair of contacts 242. Contacts 242, of which there is one pair associated with each cam 209 to 2l2, carried on a bracket 243 supported on the base plate 20!. cooperatively associated with each cam 209 to M2 is a contact 244 (Fig. 7) mounted on a bracket 245 extendin between the side plates 201 and 208. Positioned between side plate 201 and 208 and appropriately arranged adjacent to the peripheries of cams 209 to 2I2 are a plurality of inverted trough-like members 241 which are rockably supported on pilot screws 246 in the side plates 201 and 208. Each of the members 241 is provided at one end thereof with an extension 248, to the extremity of which is secured one end of a spring 249, the other end of which is secured to a spring post 25I mounted in the side plate 208. In this manner each of the members 241 is biased in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 6) and is held against the spring post 25! of its adjacent member, acting as a stop. The cams 209 to 212 are shown in Fig. 6 in an intermediate position with the projection 252 of cam 209 approaching the pallet 238, whereat it will be arrested while the escapement lever 295 is in its released or clockwise position. The flange 253 of the members 241 is of such height that, when the members 241 are biased in their clockwise position against stops 25 l the cam portions 252 of the cams 209 to 2I2 will be permitted to pass thereunder. The flanges 254 of members 241 are inclined, as shown, so that as the cam portion 252 pass thereunder, the members 241 will be rocked counterclockwise about their pilot screws 246 against the tension of the springs 249,

thus permitting the cam portions 252 to continue their movement in transit.

Assuming that all of the cams 209 to 2l2 have been rotated in a clockwise direction (Figs. 6 and 7) through their frictional connection with shaft 204 to bring all of the cam projection 252 in contact with pallet 238 of their respective escapement levers 235, and assuming further that magnet 232 associated with cam 209 has become energized (in a manner to be presently described) the escapement lever 235 will be moved magnetically in a counterclockwise direction against the action of spring 230, from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 to the full line position, thus releasing, cam 209 for rotation. Cam 209 will rotate until its cam portion 252 engages pallet 231, as shown in Fig. 7. In this position, cam portion 252 wil1 hold contact 244 closed. While the cam projection rests against pallet 231 and holds the member 241 in it counterclockwise position through the co-action of flange 254 and cam portion 252, the flange 253 is presented in the path of the cam portion 252 of each of the remaining cams 2m to 212, so that when any of the remaining magnets 23I becomes energized to release its associated cam 2|0 to 2l2 for rotation, said released cam will rotate until its cam portion 252 strikes against the flange 253 of the previously operated member 241. The cam portion 252 of the next operated cam 210 to 212 was permitted to pass underneath the flange 253 of the member 241 next adjacent (in a counterclockwise direction) to the first operated member 24! because said member 241 was held in its clockwise position against stop 25| by it spring 249. However,

tacts 222 to 225 have been closedby the cam 22!. "For example, the contact 264 being closed by the insertionof tape acircuit is prepared from battery through the contact 264 over conductor 2 66 after the next operated cam 210 to 212 ha been and conductor 268 to-contact 222 which, when rotated until its cam portion 252 strikes flange 253 of the first operated member 241, the member '24! adjacent to the first operated member 241 will also. assume its counterclockwise position with the flange 254 resting upon the apex of the cam .portion 252, and holding its flange 253 into the :path .of the remaining cam portions 252.

As the magnet 23! remain energized it holds its escapement pawl 235 in the attracted position, and the projection 23,9 thereon holds .contact .242 closed. Alsocontact 2.4.4, as previously indicated, remains closed, the purpose .of which will :DIesently appear. As previously described, cam 22! constantly rotates to close contacts 222 to .225, successively, the purpose of which will also appear in the ensuing description of operation.

General operation As set forth in the aforementioned copending application, each unit I5 is provided with a transmitting cam cylinder 25? (Fig. 8) carried on shaft 204 and operatively connected therewith through a suitable clutch mechanism (not shown). For

purposes of illustration, the clutch is shown by r means of a clutch disc 258 cooperating with a clutch release lever 25.9 associated with a clutch trip magnet 25!. The cam cylinder 25'! carries a plurality of contact control cams 252 (only one of which is shown in Fig. 8) which operate through a corresponding plurality of levers 263 to operate their associated contacts. In the particular schematic arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the contact lever 263 is associated with the tapeout pin of the transmitting distributor unit l5 and controls the tape-out contact 264. The tapeout contact 264 is connected on one side to battery 265 and on the other side thereof to a conductor 258, the other end of which is connected r to one of the contact springs of the contact 242,

the'other contact spring of 242 being connected by a conductor-26l to the winding of the magnet 23!, thence toground. The contact 242 is also connected over conductors 288 and 269 to the contacts 222. The remaining contacts 223, 224, and 225 are connected to their respective contacts 242 independently. Contact 2 34 is connected by means of conductors 2H and 222 to the winding of the clutch trip magnet .26! in the transmitting distributor unit l5.

As set forth in the aforementioned copending application, the insertion of tape in-any one of the transmitter distributor units l5 closes the tape-out contact 264 located on that unit. Al'- tliough only four units [5 are indicated as corn trolled by the cams shown in Figs. 4 to '7, it is of course understood that the number of cams in the control mechanism shown in Fig. 4 can be increased. to serve as many units I5 as desired.

As previously described, the cam 22! rotates constantly and closes contacts 222 to 225 successively, so that at such time When a tape-out contact 26%- is closed in the transmitting unit 15 a circuit will be completed, as presently described, for a particular magnet 23| to 234 when its conclosed by cam "-22'li,-- willcomplete' the circuit ground. The magnet 23I mow remains energized,

despite the [periodic opening and closing of contact 222,. over .theaforeedescribed locking circuit. As the magnet '23.! has nowbecome-energizedJand theescapement pawl 23.5 has been rotated counterclockwise, the pallet 238 has been disengaged from the cam portion 2.52 rthereof .(see Fig; 7) and the cam 2.0.9 will rotate clockwise until its. cam portion 2.52 strikes against the pallet 23'! of the same lever 2.35. The team portion 252 .of cam 20 9 operates to .close contact 124.4 associated therewith to. complete an energizing circuit for the clutch trip magnet 261 of the interconnected transmitin :unit 5., :f o batt y 2: 3,, throu h the wind.-

in o ma net 25. over conductor 12.. throu h onta 264 .andiote conductcrfi; ba k to batte 21. .Ihe it-c ematio .oimaen t 26.1. .ma

nstica lvm ve l er .25.9 out .o en a ement with c ut h memb r 2. t p m th rota ion o th cam disc 25'! to initiate transmission ofmessages unde ta ontr -i Qm sai nte c nne ansm tt n J1 p lcl ta h iins rted in anoth t an i ng u i '5. Wh l he tra smi i i c nu n re t P e i usl o ra ed un t .5 n id a ut cont 26 i h ca d to cause an energizing circuit for its associated magnet 23;! to-234 to be completed so -that the cam .2L0fto 21,2 ,associ tfid. therewith would. be released for rotation. The released ,cam 2m to 2 w ul r ta 31.1 the oint own .i Fi represented by the ,iiiange 2 53 of .theirnember. '24"! It is understoodthatthe cams .269 to 212 may be selected in any order or sequence dependent y n t e seq enc o placement of ta i the transmitting units 15. As each cam 26}! to 2'l2'is released for rotation, it will rotate until t m o t on 1. s stop edb fi h fi nee m or the pr vi u o ted member 41 A te completion of transmission'lfrom tljieun'it associated with camg2ll9, thetape'-out contact26 l will be opened and the circuit for magnet 25 will be broken. r

The escapement lever 235 associatedwith the released magnet =25! will be rotated clockwise under the action of "its spring 231 to permit the a. cam 209 to -rptate up to the pallet 238 which is now in the cam arresting position. Member -2 i-l (Fig. '7) which was held operated by said cam 299 will be permitted to rotate or rock clockwise by its spring 249 against the stop 25d to remove flange 253 thereof from blocking relation with the next stopped cam disc 2 or 2i2 thereby complete a circuit for the trip magnet 26! of the transmitting unit l connected thereto to permit transmission from said transmitting unit. Correspondingly, the other cam discs 209, 2I0, 2| l, or 212 will move up one position in readiness for transmission after thecompletion of the transmission from the previously selected unit [5.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is understood that such embodimentsare merely illustrative and not restrictive, and that, all forms coming within the scope of equivalency of the appended claims are intended to be covered by the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, and means including an electrical relay selector system for facilitating automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in said transmitters.

2. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, a pluralityof cams corresponding to said plurality of transmitters, a source of power tending to rotate said cams, latching devices for normally preventing rotation of said cams, and means ef- 'fective under control of said transmitters for selectively releasing said latching devices to enable rotation of said cams by said source of power for facilitating automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in said transmitters.

3. In a telegraph system, three-or more tape transmitters, a transmission channel connectible to said transmitters, and switching means for connecting said transmitters to said channel automatically and sequentially in accordance with the sequence of tape insertion in said transmitters.

4. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, means including an electrical relay selector system comprising a group of relays for each transmitter, and circuit means efiective automatically to condition the relays in each group for sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in said transmitters.

5. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, and means comprising an electrical relay selector system consisting of a plurality of sequence chains for facilitating automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channels of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in said transmitters, in which the relays vary in number directly as the square of the number of transmitters, whereby said sequence chains are of equal extent electrically for each tape transmitter.

6. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a transmission channel connectible to said transmitters, and a switching apparatus comprising electromagnetic switching instrumentalities, said instrumentalities varying in number directly as the square of the number of transmitters and arranged in an equal number of vertical and horizontal rows, and means for connecting said instrumentalities to said channel in accordanc with the sequence of tape insertion in said transmitters.

'7. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, and control means including a plurality of cams corresponding to said plurality of transmitters, a source of power tending to rotate said cams, electromagnetically controlled latching devices for normally preventing rotation of said cams, means effective under control of said transmitters for selectively releasing said latching devices to enable rotation of said cams by said source of power, and means controlled by said cams for facilitating automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in said transmitters.

8. In a telegraph system, a plurality of tape transmitters, a single channel of communication, and control means including a plurality of cams corresponding to said plurality of transmitters, a source of power tending to rotate said cams, escapement devices for controlling the rotation of said cams, rockable bail members peripherally arranged around said cams, each of said members adapted to span all of said cams to be controlled thereby, means effective under control of said transmitters for selectively releasing said escapement devices to enable rotation of said cams by said source of power, and means controlled by said cams for facilitating, through the instrumentality of said bail members, automatic and sequential transmission of messages from said transmitters to said channel of communication in accordance with the sequence of tape placement in said transmitters.

9. In a telegraph system, a single channel of communication, three or more transmitters, means associated with each transmitter to condition it for transmission, and means effective automatically to connect said transmitters to said channel of communication in the chronological order of readiness of transmitters;

10. In a telegraph system, a single channel of communication, three or more tape transmitters, and means effective automatically to connect said tape transmitters to said single channel of communication in the chronological order of tape placement in each transmitter.

KIM'NIEL A. SYLVESTER. 

